Catching the Wave Before it Catches You

Bali’s Aerowisata Sanur Beach Hotel is now ‘Tsunami Ready’

Aerowisata Sanur Hotel in Bali has been certified “Tsunami Ready” – the first property on Sanur beach in Bali to earn that distinction.

'Tsunami Ready' certification is granted by a private consulting company that assists its client hotels in defining and implementing tsunami safety standards.

The company advises trains and certifies mainly hotels and tourism-related businesses on how to prepare for tsunami. [www.tsunamiready.com]

Actively supported by the Bali Hotels Association [BHA] and in cooperation the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 'Tsunami Ready' hotels and business have carefully reviewed their operations in the context of a possible tsunamis or earthquakes in the areas of practical knowledge, decision making, evacuation procedures, evacuation routes and shelter, post-tsunami recovery and community relations.

Final certification is only granted after the successful completion of an on-site audit conducted by Tsunami Ready including rigorous simulation exercises.

Aerowisata Sanur Hotel certification was granted on October 10, 2011.

The highlight of the certification session was a comprehensive test evacuation involving both guests and hotel staff. After the hotel’s internal tsunami warning siren was sounded, guests were rushed to the evacuation points by members of an established evacuation team dressed in orange signal vests for easy identification. While guest are rushed to safety, other members of the team jump into action closing down major departments of the hotel, shutting off gas supplies to prevent fires and explosions and securing essential documents.

When guests and staff arrive at the designated muster points, evacuation spot managers perform surveys to make sure no one has been left behind. The evacuation spot is equipped with food and water sufficient for 2 days together with essential medical and hygienic equipment.